The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Aide to the President Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin and Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina.
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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues,
You know about the huge tragedy that happened in Kemerovo on March 25. Dozens of people, including very many children have died in a fire. I suggest that we honour their memory with a moment of silence.
Minute of silence.
Mr Medvedev, we have discussed the matter, and I also talked to our colleagues in Kemerovo about the need to check the activities of such shopping malls. It must not be a sporadic effort. We clearly must work regularly to ensure public safety.
We must also look at the legislation and its implementation. Of course, we will not change the rules that have liberalised the economy, but the existing laws offer us an opportunity to do our best to ensure public safety.
We must analyse the situation and, if we see that something is missing, we will hold consultations with our business associations and take decisions following an analysis of the available material.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev: Mr President, we will do this by all means. We will analyse the legislation and submit our proposals.
Vladimir Putin: If necessary, we must also offer assistance to the families of those who have died and were injured in the fire. The territorial authorities will do whatever is necessary, but, again, if federal assistance is required, please take this into account and do everything the federal Government can do.
Dmitry Medvedev: A number of decisions have been already taken. We will see what else we can do.
Vladimir Putin: I have invited you here today to discuss economic matters, our mid-term goals, as well as the practical aspects of the implementation of some provisions of the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly.
We must get ready to formalise the goals set out in the Presidential Address. I would like you to speak on the practical measures you propose for implementing the tasks set out in the Address.
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